Subject:
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Re: Android vs. Droid vs. Automaton (Re: 4x2ReVu: 7141 Naboo Fighter)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.reviews, lugnet.starwars
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Date:
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Fri, 14 Jan 2000 08:54:25 GMT
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Viewed:
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2045 times
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Joseph Gonzalez wrote:
> In lugnet.reviews, Jonathan Little writes:
> > In lugnet.reviews, John Green writes:
> > > Um, R2-D2 is called a DROID though, right? And what is DROID short for?
> > > ANDROID. I think in the original script or somewhere R2 and C-3PO were called
> > > 'droids. Now, they've dropped the apostrophe.
> > >
> > > -John
> >
> > John is most certainly right. In the novelization that I just finished
> > reading, it was spelled with an apostrophe ('droids). Since this was written
> > by Lucas himself, I'd have to imagine that it appeared that way in the
> > script also.
>
> The problem I see with using these terms is that Webster's Dictionary
> defines android as "having human features" (which the R2 units definitely do
> not have). Consequently, one couldn't use the 'droid term either because it is
> just a contraction of the original term Android.
You'd be surprised. My best friend looked an awful lot like R2-D2 for a while.
> I could have used the term Astromech in my review but I prefer to avoid words
> that are not widely known and I'm pretty sure Astromech is a term that Mr.
> Lucas came up with himself.
They do refer to them as "Astromech Droids."
> Looking back (and for any edited forms of the review), I guess I should use the
> term Automaton or Robot (though Robot also denotes human features in some
> circles).
Is it possible that simply exhibiting human behaviour is enough to merit the use of
the Greek "Andro-", which means "Man (male)?" Note that both R2-D2 and C-3PO are
most definitely in possession of male human character traits. The "-oid" (note the
collapse of the two Os) concerns, as was noted before, "having the traits or
characteristics of [x]." The etymology says nothing about the only measure being
physical.
> P.S. If this discussion keeps going we probably ought to move it to
> off-topic.debate
Nah, this is kind of fun. Now, when we start discussing their political or
religious views...
best,
Lindsay
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